Trouble brews on NHS reforms
The leader of the UK’s biggest union has called on Labour MPs to vote against the Government in a Commons debate on foundation hospitals on Wednesday.
Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, which has 450,000 members in the NHS, says the Government’s radical health reforms could be “deeply damaging” to the NHS.
The TGWU and the GMB are also standing with Unison against the plans.
The Government wants to reward top-performing hospitals with greater financial freedom.
But critics say Foundation trusts will inexorably lead to a two-tier health service.
Earlier this month, the Lords voted against a clause on foundation trusts in the Health and Social Care Bill, defeating the Government by 150 to 100.
In a letter to MPs, Mr Prentis said: “I believe that, if introduced, Foundation Trusts will lead to increased inequality and competition in the health service, undermining our ability to deliver our commitments on the NHS and generating dissatisfaction amongst patients and the public.
“The NHS is one of Labour’s key electoral assets, and is one of the most crucial issues on which the next election will be fought.
“With the additional money now being invested by the Government we have an historic opportunity to transform the NHS, reversing the effects of years of Tory under-funding and providing improving services for all.
“By pursuing Foundation Trusts, we run the risk of forfeiting this progress and jeopardising our reputation as custodians of the NHS, opening the door to the emergence of unacceptable levels of inequality and diverting staff from implementing the many positive reforms which the Government has already introduced.”
Health Secretary Dr John Reid defended foundation hospitals yesterday, saying: ‘If we don’t get this form of decentralisation then we will not protect the health service from those who wish to undermine it, because it won’t be as relevant for the next 50 years as it has for the last 50.”
Should MPs prolong the debate, the Government may keep the Commons sitting beyond Thursday, the day scheduled to end the parliamentary year.
It is also envisioned that peers may block the legislation again even if MPs back the plans next week.
